Milford, Conn. – After trailing for most of the game, the Canisius College hockey team fought back to grab a late third-period lead only to see Sacred Heart answer right back in a 4-4 draw. The Griffs are now 4-4-2 on the season and 3-2-1 in Atlantic Hockey play, while the Pioneers are 3-5-2 and 3-3-2 against league foes.
“We showed a lot of heart to come back and take the lead in the third,” said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. “We played to win tonight and played well but we just weren’t able to get that game-winner late.”
Sophomore Shane Conacher (Burlington, Ontario) led the Griffs in the tie, matching his career high with three points on a goal and two assists. SeniorsMatthew Grazen (Clarence, N.Y.) and Mitch McCrank (Haileybury, Ontario) and freshman Ryan Schmelzer (Buffalo, N.Y.) also added a goal for Canisius.
Freshman Reilly Turner (Temiscaming, Quebec) recorded 25 saves in net for the Griffs.
For the second-straight night, the Griffs struck early in the contest to take the first lead. On a rush, Conacher centered the puck to Schmelzer, who was open in front of the goal, and the rookie redirected it into the net for his first collegiate tally. Junior Ralph Cuddemi (Concord, Ontario) also registered an assist on the goal 4:09into the contest.
However, the lead for the Griffs was short-lived as Sacred Heart answered with a pair of goals off rebounds in the next two minutes. The Pioneers tied the game when Evan Jasper scored just 52 seconds following Schemelzer’s goal and Zach Luczyk then knocked in a rebound just 59 seconds after that for the 2-1 Sacred Heart lead.
Canisius pulled even early in the second, converting once on a five-minute major penalty. On a rush, Conacher found Grazen open on the far end and the senior sneaked it past the Sacred Heart netminder for his third goal of the season. SeniorStephen Farrell (Ottawa, Ontario) also registered an assist on the power-play tally3:40 into the contest.
Sacred Heart reclaimed its advantage thanks to a Canisius turnover. Erlich Doerksen took advantage of the Canisius miscue in its offensive zone while the Griffs defenders were changing, finishing a 2-on-1 on the other end for the 3-2 lead with 3:32 remaining in the second.
Specials teams was key to the Griffs’ comeback in the third. Shortly after killing off a five-minute major penalty, Canisius converted on a power play of its own to tie the game at three. McCrank one-timed the puck into the net from the left face-off circle for his second tally of the season. Farrell and senior Doug Jessey (Langdon, Alberta) both registered assists on the goal.
Canisius then briefly gained the lead thanks to Conacher’s fourth goal of the season. In the team’s defensive zone, junior Chris Rumble (Seattle, Wash.) gloved the puck down and started a break. Cuddemi sent the puck on goal and after the Sacred Heart netminder made the save, Conacher jammed the loose puck past the goal line for the 4-3 lead.
Sacred Heart, however, answered right back, scoring just 25 seconds later. Jordan Minello ripped a shot high and glove side from the left face-off circle for the game-tying goal with 4:35 remaining in regulation.
Both teams had chances in the final 10 minutes but neither could convert. The Griffs killed a Sacred Heart power play in the final three minutes of regulation to send the game into overtime. Canisius then had a number of near misses in the extra session – registering four shots in overtime – as the teams skated to the 4-4 draw.
Canisius finished the game with a 41-29 advantage in shots. The Griffs also won the special teams battle, going 2-for-7 on the power play and killing all five Sacred Heart penalties.
After playing their first six conference games on the road this season, the Griffs now return to Buffalo to host RIT on Friday and Saturday. The teams are set to meet at HARBORCENTER with game time beginning at 7:35 p.m. each night.
Game Notes: The 41 shots for Canisius are a season high … Conacher, who now leads the team with 11 points (4g, 7a) this season, also registered three points against Bentley in the Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals last season … Farrell registered two assists for the first time in his career … Canisius went 0-1-1 against Sacred Heart this weekend after going 8-1-1 against the Pioneers in the last four seasons … Canisius has allowed only one power-play goal in the last six games (24 attempts).
